March 17, 2009

This bill would require the department of finance and administration, the department of information technology, and the legislative finance committee to study the best and most cost efficient way to create an easily accessible, searchable online database that displays the state budget and spending for each year, and require the results of the study to be submitted by November 1, 2009. Although some state budget information is available now, it is not easily searchable and accessible. This bill was passed in the House by a vote of 48 to 14 on March 10th and has been signed by the Governor. House Memorial 78.

This bill would abolish the death penalty in New Mexico as of July 1, 2009. The bill passed in the House by a vote of 40 to 28 on February 11th and passed in the Senate by a vote of 24 to 18 on March 13th. It is now awaiting the Governor’s signature. House Bill 285.

The bill would levy a .75% compensating tax increase on goods and services for all citizens and businesses and a .75% increase on gross receipts taxes in order to spend more money on public schools. The bill is contingent upon passage of HB331, which would enact a new public school funding formula. HB346 passed in the House by a vote of 37 to 29 on March 13th and is now in the Senate Finance Committee. House Bill 346.

This bill would require crime victims and other eyewitnesses to attempt identifying suspects by viewing a lineup of persons instead of photos, with only an administrator who is not associated with that case present. But it would allow the suspects to have their attorneys present. The bill would also require a video to be made of each lineup procedure, in addition to the current audio requirement. The bill passed in the House by a vote of 34 to 31 on March 6th and is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee. House Bill 396.

This bill would authorize live audio and video streaming of Senate Floor proceedings that would be accessible online through the Legislature’s web site, and create the Senate Streaming Oversight Committee. Similar legislation passed in the Senate in the 2008 legislative session, but the cameras were removed shortly before the start of the 2009 legislative session. This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 37 to 0 on March 13th and has been signed by the Governor. See also SB401. Senate Resolution 4.

This bill would increase government transparency by creating an online, searchable database of all state government spending that would be free and accessible to the public. Similar legislation has either passed or been introduced in numerous states. Although some state budget information is available now, it is not easily searchable and accessible. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 38 to 0 on March 10th and is now in the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. Senate Bill 159.

This bill would eliminate the requirement for residential property to be revalued when it is sold and place limits on increases in the property’s value, with certain exceptions. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 22 to 18 on March 14th and is now in the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. Senate Bill 181.